I felt my eye muscles flex, “No way!”
“Yeah. She told Dad her greatest wish was to be free of Centaurs. She said she wanted to be human. He thought her wish, left ungranted while it was within his power to honor it, could destroy Aphrodite’s magic. Dad set her free then put a protective spell over her. You should have seen him the night that he found out she’d had a child with another Centaur after he gave up his most powerful magic to protect her – he was pissed!”
“Was that the night of Bruce’s wedding, when I met him?”
“Yeah, I think so. You have to understand, he seriously loved your mom. But your mom was so freaked from growing up with Zandra that he couldn’t force her to marry him. It just wasn’t in him. The night of the wedding, he told her he’d protect her from Zandra—gave her a plane ticket, an apartment, cash, a new identity and sent her away.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“He wouldn’t have any reason to lie to me about it. It’s the only explanation for why Zandra never found her. Dad has Aphrodite’s magic. Protecting someone he loved with her magic was the only thing that ensured her safety.”
“So that story Zandra just told us is true?”
“My dad thinks it is. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I know he has powerful magic, but he wasn’t willing to use it against your mom. It seems like it would have been a lot easier on both of them if he had used it to make your mother fall in love with him. Whether it came from Aphrodite or the Wicked Witch of the West isn’t all that important. He knew where she was her whole life. You, on the other hand, were a real surprise. He didn’t know anything about you.”
“Why would he agree to let you marry me? You’d think it would open old wounds or something.”
“I think he thought I’d be more charming or something, who knows. Dad and Zandra do have one common goal; they definitely want us to marry. I don’t think there’s anything either of them wouldn’t do to make it happen.” He took a breath, then explained, “Zandra is by far the most powerful Centauride. Her power comes from her lineage. Dad is in the same boat. He loaned a chunk of his magic to your mother, but since your mother’s death. . .sorry, Aphrodite’s magic has returned to him. They have this crazy idea that if we marry, our children will be kind of a Centaur Super-Race. We have the only two ancestors who were touched directly by the gods.”
“So how do you feel about it?”
“About marrying you?” I nodded. “When Bianca chose Drake, I didn’t care about much of anything. But when word spread that you had come to your father’s house, I thought my dad might try to work something out with your dad. Let’s face it; it’s not hard to look at you.” Gage’s smile was shy. He had been so larger-than-life since I met him that it took me aback. “I thought maybe you and I could start out as friends and maybe grow into something more—eventually I’d get over Bianca. When I showed up the other morning, and you were wearing the same stupid necklace Dad had told me about, that had been worn by Angela, I knew I couldn’t force you to marry me any more than he could your mother. I told my father about the necklace, and he wasn’t happy. I told him I thought if I could bring Bianca and Drake back with me – history wouldn’t repeat itself.”
“Does he know how you feel about Bianca?”
“Sure he does. But he knows engagements are almost never broken. The fact that we were both betrothed, it wouldn’t have occurred to him or anyone else.”
“I’m ready to disappear, deep, deep undercover and never see another Centaur for the rest of my life!”
“We aren’t all bad. In fact, I know one who would follow you to the end of the earth.”
“Drake?”
“Well, yeah. He’s been infatuated with you since the night of your brother’s wedding. When his engagement to Bianca was announced, he didn’t show even a hint of excitement. He spent like thirty seconds with you that night, and he was ready to sacrifice his bloodline.”
“You weren’t even there that night. How would you know?”
“Bianca told me, and I see it on Drake’s face. You should have seen him the other night when I told him how we were going to smuggle him into your room. You’d have thought he just won the lottery.”
“You could have clued me in a little ahead of time.”
“Right, the next time I try to sneak my fiancé’s lover into her bedroom, I’ll make sure to send word ahead of time.”
“So, what do you think Zandra’s going to do to us?”
“I don’t know, but knowing her, it’ll be something dramatic. She might send me away. Are you going to be okay here without me for a few weeks?”
“As long as I know I’m getting out of here, I’ll be fine.”
“Good, sorry Bianca got us busted. I told her to use her microwaves or whatever power she has to make sure the coast was clear.”
I patted Gage’s hand, “I’m sure her thoughts were elsewhere.”
We didn’t have to wait long. I had no sooner gotten my words out than Zandra emerged from the house. In as kind and thoughtful a voice as I had heard from her, she said, “There’s no reason to send you back to your father’s, Gage.”
“Miss Zandra, I deeply apologize for my indiscretion. It won’t happen again.”
That wicked smile that had been reserved for me reappeared, “I know it won’t. The problem has been dealt with. There will be no more distractions.”
Horror gripped me when I saw the crimson on her hands. “Grandmother, what’s on your hands?”
In that same sweet voice she had just used with Gage, she answered, “Camille, that is the blood of your enemy. Her heart no longer beats.” She turned to Gage, “As a gesture of my goodwill, I also stopped the heart of the man who lusted after your betrothed. Your competition is also no longer a concern.”
“Nooooooooo!” was the only response I could get out. I grabbed hold of Gage, trying to steady myself. He pushed my hand away and ran into Zandra’s mansion. I was behind him, but he topped the stairs before I took the first one. My guard was in chase and grabbed my arms, holding me in place on the third step from the bottom.
Chapter 34
Camille Benning – Florida